HEADLEY SITS WITH BICEPS STRAIN

Chase Headley has added what manager Bud Black called a mild right biceps strain to his list of ailments.

The third baseman, who had been playing with a sore left knee, was not in the Padres’ lineup Wednesday. It was the second game he has missed this season, the first coming last week during a doubleheader. That absence was at least partially attributed to the knee.

Headley, Black said, suffered the biceps strain while hitting in the batting cage before Tuesday’s game against the Rockies. He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout and committed a throwing error. He is hitting .160 through 50 at-bats this season.

“It sorta bothered him as the day went on,” Black said of the strain, adding that Headley is considered day-to-day. “(He was) a little sore after the game, a little sore this morning. Hopefully he’ll respond to treatment and be back out there in a short period of time.”

Alexi Amarista started at third Wednesday, though he lacks the arm strength to play the position on a regular basis. As insurance, first baseman Yonder Alonso took grounders at third during batting practice. Black said before the game that catcher Yasmani Grandal and outfielder Xavier Nady also are emergency candidates.

“We have a third baseman who’s right now day-to-day with a biceps strain, and we might need someone to go over there if something happens tonight,” Black said, adding of Alonso: “He’s got good hands, he’s got a good arm. We’re gonna look at that a little bit.”

Alonso made a start at third, with the Reds, in 2011 and an appearance there last season. Both were of the emergency variety. He did play the position growing up but, with Ryan Braun playing third, moved to first at the University of Miami.

Black acknowledged that, in terms of reserve depth, third base ranks as the organization’s weakest position. At the Triple-A level, Ryan Jackson and Alberto Gonzalez are capable of playing the position, but Jackson is on the disabled list with a right wrist sprain. He will be examined in San Diego this week.

Notable

While he remains at least a couple of weeks from a minor league rehab assignment, Carlos Quentin was on the field, in the early group, for another batting practice session Wednesday. The outfielder also played long toss in the outfield. He has been running on an anti-gravity treadmill, though Black said he is likely seven to 10 days away from running on the field. “He’s getting closer to more activity on the field as far as just the intensity and the effort level,” Black said.

• The Padres announced the three finalists for the Petco Park public address announcer position: Sam Chin, of San Diego; Todd Leitz, of Studio City; and Alex Miniak, of New Hampshire. As their final tryout, each of the finalists was scheduled to announce a full game between Wednesday and Friday, as well as part of Saturday’s game, during which the next PA announcer will be announced.